Wayne State University

August 27, 2009: WSU Medical Campus Farmers Market

This year, SEED Wayne planned for two new pilot market days to serve the WSU-DMC medical campus and nearby hospital staff and guests. The first was today.

The morning started with much anticipation. Did enough people know about the market? Would they come? Despite the e-blasts to WSU School of Medicine and nearby medical institutions, beaucoup flyers posted in the area, and press releases, etc. we were anxious for the vendors!  A handful of people here and there were trickling in by about 10:30 when vendors were setting up. The picture on the right is at 11 AM, when the market started. 

And then, people started pouring in from all directions! One vendor was kept so busy that he discovered at 2 PM that they had forgotten to put all his wares out for display!

The second medical campus pilot market is on September 17, 11 AM to 4 PM, in front of Scott Hall; the Wednesday market is offered weekly from 11 AM to 4 PM at 5201 Cass Ave (in front of the Detroit Public Library)

August 5, 2009

What a beautiful day made just for an outdoor market! Upper-70s, low-80s and sunny, with a nice breeze!  Much excitement at the market today.  Since the last journal entry, several new vendors have joined the market: Holtz Family Farm, D-Town Farm (which is maintained by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network), and Bizzy Lizzy Bakery (which specializes in flour-less cookies that are just delicious)!

Yet another exciting development for Detroit agriculture and our market!  Earthworks Urban Farm became the first Certified Organic farm in Detroit, and today was their first day selling their produce after their certification! And we're very pleased to host them at our market!

Other exciting things have happened as well. For one, Detroit Free Press published some very nice pictures of the market, with more on their website. These can be seen by clicking here.

We had visitors today from across the region.  A gang of avid gardeners and food advocates from Lansing descended upon the market, as did a family (friends of SEED Wayne) from Ann Arbor, giving grandkids a tour of Detroit sites: The WSU Farmers Market, the people mover, and Belle Isle!

Also, today was the Detroit Agriculture Network Annual Tour of Detroit Gardens. Why is this significant for our market? Because the tour featured many of the farms and gardens that supply our market, including D-Town Farm (3rd from top, right) and Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden is maintained by a Wayne State Alumnus, "Mr D." (below) who sells his gorgeous produce as part of the Grown in Detroit Collaborative. He is shown posing with a gigantic zucchini, that escaped many earlier harvests. The zuke was later gifted to SEED Wayne's Kami Pothukuchi, who received it with great joy!

July 15, 2009

After a pretty high turnout last week (July 8), we thought we were finally on an upward trajectory following a somewhat slow June.  But we plateaued at a little less than a 1,000 this week.  Which ain't shabby at all, but c'mon, Wayne State and mid-towners, we can do much better!

The highlight of the day was a cooking demonstration by Chef Alison Costello, Executive Chef to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Chef Alison specializes in affordable, healthy, delicious, and local--what a potent combo!  This lady knows how to wring the most taste out of an ingredient! 

Chef Alison demonstrated a salad with barley and market veggies, a zucchini+purslane soup, fried squash blossoms, dandelion salad, and topped it all up with a refreshing basil limeade slushy. What a cool splash on a muggy summer day! 

Many of the attendees tried their hand at frying the squash blossoms, which were just delicious--the smells tempting many market goers to stop by and just watch and taste the products!

Also, over the last couple of weeks, thanks to the friendly machinations of Campus Police with city parking enforcement, we've been able to provide free 15 min. parking on Cass Ave, in front of the market.  This has made the difference for many shoppers, who said they were driving by on Cass and screeched to a halt (only in a manner of speaking!) when they saw the free parking sign!  We're truly grateful for the partnership with WSU campus police and WSU Business Operations! 

For recipes that Chef Alison demonstrated at the market, click here.

June 24, 2009

What a hot, hot day! Still, many customers turned out; some made a beeline to the cool cider stand at Ridley's. See the picture of one such group on the right. Two are out-of-towners--from California, yet! We hope you had a good time at our market!

We were visited by many deans as well! Perhaps they were on their way to a deans' meeting.  However, a couple stopped by and bought some produce. Deans Jerry Herron and Sandy Yee were snapped with peas! Just the kind of walk-by shooting we like to do!

And then there were feats of derring-do as well. Victor Green, director of community relations, swore he did not do flowers! Eat flowers, that is! Well, Megan from Grown in Detroit and market manager Kami Pothukuchi used a bit of our own community relations to persuade him to just do it.  We swear we witnessed a nasturtium (a good flower for salads!) go into his mouth and down his throat! Flower Power!

And Dan Carmody, Eastern Market's prez was caught fanning Grown in Detroit's Megan with her own lettuce! Was it kind or was it cruel? You decide.

Support your market!

Please spread the word!

June 17, 2009.

Heavy rain in the morning made us anxious for the vendors. Would shoppers come? Then, just as the market opened, the rain stopped, and all heaved huge sighs of relief.

Customer turnout was affected but not by very much. Our "loyal" customers turned out as usual! Plus we had very special visitors today: several kids from the Merill-Palmer Skillman Center for Children descended upon the market with the full force of their adorable cuteness. They and their adult caretakers visited many stalls and also made purchases. Other market shoppers were enthralled by the group. We could not have paid for such excellent public relations for the market--perhaps the kids will agree to be employed by the market? In exchange for apples?

Special to today's offerings were Detroit honey from Greentoe Gardens and Strawberries from Ridley Farms.

Please spread the word about the market!